Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

This whole ‘national language’ issue or what I supposedly said about other languages in Uganda is being twisted by some people.But let me provide you with the last possible explanation as far as this issue is concerned.

First of all, I have never said that Baganda are superior to Langis or any other tribe but the fact of the matter is that some people are clearly much smarter than others just as some are clearly stronger. Education is good but it can never make everyone equal. It is also true that the dominant culture in Uganda is that of the Baganda because they are the majority.

For instance, most men I know find the ladies from western and central Uganda kind of more beautiful than the rest but, to have a superior mind, to have a superior body, is not to possess also a superior humanity. So, this would not make these ladies more superior than others in Uganda unless if they do something extraordinary.

This superiority has got nothing to do with the tribe but there are other factors that can probably explain it, though I don’t wanna go into all that, but such factors are the reasons why the Baganda and westerners attract more of people’s intention now than any other tribe in the country.

You see superiority is explained by a lot of things. Let me give you an example outside Uganda because it will make this a bit easier for me( as i don’t want you to drag me into some tribal contests anymore). Then you will find a way to relate it to the Uganda context without necessarily abusing me, as some of you often do. Forbes’ list of the wealthiest people includes 117 people who each inherited more than 500 million dollars. Now we know what being “superior” means. It means being lucky enough to have picked the right parents. There’s the “meritocracy” at work. We all get to run in a race against someone who has been given permission to start the race one millimetre from the finish line – now, given those odds, go out and compete, and God be with you.

The Marxist “classless” world wants everyone to be equal and ignores the fact that we shall never be equal.

Let me also address a statement I probably made and which some of you have quoted on our debates on UAH forum while attributing it to me: “Here in the UK, the only sure way you can get to know whether someone is a Ugandan is when you hear them speaking Luganda”.

The above opinion isn’t just mine; it is the opinion of just about anyone who ever tried to be part of any group in diaspora. For instance, try to speak to Ugandans that attend parties, conferences, weddings,……. in both UK and USA, they will tell you that the most common medium of communication on such events is Luganda. Forget about the speeches some people make in English but the real language of interaction during such events is Luganda, my friend. Because some of you have confessed that you don’t know how to speak Luganda, I think it becomes difficult for you to know whether people around you are speaking it or not. At the end of the day, those Ugandans around you have recognized your problem and that is why they speak with you in either English or some other language you understand (if you know any).

If they’re using a language which is syntactically different from Standard Luganda or English, then, the theory goes, the people that have met on such an occasion are mainly from the same tribe. For example, I have been on parties here in the UK that are dominated by Banyarwanda, and the main language of interaction there is Lunyarwanda. I never complain at all though i rarely dance in circles with hands swinging around, as they do.

Theorizing in that context does not mean that I undermine other tribes or their languages because I have always judged people for who they are, not what tribe they are, but it means that there is a language other than English that is more popular among Ugandans abroad and home.

One thing for sure: some of you seem to love the English language than any language in Africa which is a bit absurd. It starts, in part, from your failure to recognize that these debates are issues of national importance to pan-Africans not some ‘Malwa’ talk. You also fail to recognize that Uganda is a very special place such that we should learn to recognize our own uniqueness; not meekly fall prey to playing ethnic sock-puppet games for the rest of the tribalists!

Most of all, we for sure should stop attacking each other over an issue that makes sense to anyone who wants to see it as sensible. Honestly, why would anyone hate Luganda as a national language unless if they have got some issues against the Baganda? But the big question is: why would anyone let such small talk get in the way of the big picture. The big picture here is to find a native language that will define us as Ugandans.

Yes, i recognize that we all have differences in skin color, different shades, different tribes, and cultures but this should have no bearing on our decision to deciding a national language.

Thank you

Abbey.K.Semuwemba